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Soccer Kids

You might remember we told you last week about the Socceroos Asian Cup victory. It was a huge achievement because it's the first big trophy our national team has ever won. But will that make the sport more attractive for kids to play? Carl found out.

Comments

Soccer is the best it looks good about the programs - Josh

This video inspired me to play more soccer. - Bobby

I am really good at soccer and I wish I become a famous soccer player like Tim cahill - ezeddin

This story was a great resemblence of the outstanding soccer talent in Australia and all of the kids out there working for their professional soccer playing dreams! - Hayley

I found this article very inspiring. I will defienately remember the Socceroos for life. I never knew how far one could go.......... - Sophie

Go the Socceroos! Let's win more trophies this year! - Hamish Boyd

Great work socceroos on winning the Asian Cup and good luck all clubs.

- Vin10k

go the aussies and go figtree heights public school - alex kotsopoulos

go the mighty aussies - alex kotsopoulos

I think it's good because it's good to be healthy and have fun - Ryan

Let us win more silver ware

Come on soceroos!!!! - Jay

Gooooo Socceroos there the best I was amazed when they won

- Pkmn

I really think that Socceroos have a lot of skill witch is why they are so successful - max

I really like Tim Cahill. i could watch his goal over and over again. good win Socceroos - Sami

The video inspired me to play more soccer - Matthew

Well Done to the Socceroos on their great achievement. If they can grow and have more success on the world stage it could revolutionize soccer in Australia. The more success they have, the bigger soccer will get. - Ashwin

Well done to the Socceroos on the win yeah!!!!! Can't wait for the next Asian cup - Maddy

I really enjoyed this story and would now like to start soccer myself. I hope Australia win the Asian cup again another year. - Chloe

I think that the Socceroos are awesome. Congratulations Tim Cahill for being the highest goal kicker in Australian history. - RIley

Tim Cahill is such a great footballer. I really enjoyed his amazing goal at the last World Cup.

Well done, Socceroos! - Jonathan

I really like tim chills back flip kick I did that once in a game but failed I need your help tim cahill - Arinath

Great job soccerroos if they belive in them sevles those kids in training will become stars and maybe the next Tim Cahill.â½ï¸ - Izzy

Hope that all the young footballers keep trying and believing to reach their goal. - Sam

I play for Victorian Skilleroos and football is going in the right direction - Andre

Good kids hope that they keep believing. - Zac

Do u win all your games

- Pearce

Broadcast:
Tue 10 Feb 2015, 11:00am

Transcript

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Commentator: 'The host nation celebrates big time'

Just two kicks was all it took for the Socceroos to become the best team in Asia. Well actually, two kicks, and years of hard work. No one knows that better than this guy.

Tim Cahill: 'Hi BtN my name's Tim Cahill'

Just in case you didn't know, Tim Cahill is Australia's all-time leading goal scorer.

Tim Cahill: It was my dream as a kid to be a professional footballer but you know those dreams can't come true unless you really put in the sacrifice and effort to be the best you can be.

Teammate James Troisi agrees it's been a long road to get Australian football to this point.

James Troisi: It was definitely difficult, we had a lot of hard times, a lot of good times, I guess in the end things worked out

But will this big win lead to more? And will you guys be the ones leading the charge?

Kids: 'yes! are we coming back next time? yes! can we get louder and louder? yes!'

These elite under 13 squads are all about preparing young players for the big leagues.

Noah: 'We are the Skilleroos, which is, they got picked in South Australia. We have them in every state.'

Young stars are now supported through special programs like this one to make sure they achieve their potential.

Jayden: 'If I get to the next stage, it will be to Adelaide United youth, and then I get picked again to Adelaide United, and then further on from there'.

Tim says it's these types of programs that are helping Australia to improve in the world game.

Tim Cahill: 'When you train hard, work hard, and try to make sure you do the little things right, attention to detail, whether it's passing a ball of just practising, you definitely do reap the rewards'

But it's taken decades of hard work for Australian soccer to see those rewards. Now more Australian kids are playing, watching and staying with the sport than ever before. But are our best young players confident that they can make it to the top?

Caitlin: 'The better players are coming through, and the better programs, and it's just hitting off.'

Noah: 'At school lots of them that didn't play soccer, they're wanting to play soccer now, since yeah Australia have won.'

Caitlin: 'Men they're doing really well as taking the Asian cup home, and the women have been doing really well, they have a pretty strong team'

And our top players say Australian soccer still hasn't reached its full potential.

James Troisi: I think it's just a start. Obviously it's great to win silverware, but we want to continue that and it's great to see we can do that

Tim Cahill: To put Australia on the map the way we have done now with the Socceroos, and obviously myself, is a big achievement but over time hopefully it'll start to get even better.

And as you can see, the next generation of would-be Socceroos are working hard to get us there.

Credits

Related

Ever find yourself in class looking out of the window dreaming that you could be playing sport instead? Well, first up, stop it. And then you might want to check this story out. It's about a class where soccer is used as a tool to teach kids a whole variety of subjects. Sarah checks it out.

Well the Socceroos are on course to qualify for the next World Cup after an easy win over Oman last week. But the state of the game for juniors in Australia is looking a bit shakier. It's one of the most popular sports for kids to play but it's also one of the most expensive. And that could be pricing some kids out of the game.

Tue 18 Oct 2011, 11:00am

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Soccer Kids

You might remember we told you last week about the Socceroos Asian Cup victory. It was a huge achievement because it's the first big trophy our national team has ever won. But will that make the sport more attractive for kids to play? Carl found out.